Celtic suffered another frustrating cup exit on Sunday afternoon as Rangers earned a commanding 3-0 victory at Ibrox to advance to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals. The loss deepened concerns surrounding Celtic’s performance in knockout ties, coming on the heels of their dramatic Champions League collapse against LASK.

​Key Match Moments

• ​22 Minutes: Dan Neil opened the scoring for Rangers, capitalizing on slack defending to fire past the Celtic goalkeeper.
• ​58 Minutes: Kevin Kelsy doubled the hosts’ advantage with a calm finish just before the hour mark.
• ​75 Minutes: Dan Neil claimed his second of the afternoon with a strike that put the contest completely out of reach.

​O’Neill Clashes Over ‘Mentality’ Questions

Despite Celtic maintaining a perfect record in their first six league matches, the manner of this defeat triggered sharp scrutiny. The atmosphere grew tense during manager Martin O’Neill’s post-match interview with Premier Sports, where the 74-year-old took issue with repeated questions regarding his squad’s psychological fortitude.

​When pressed on whether the loss was down to tactics or mentality, O’Neill resisted placing sole blame on his players’ mindset. He highlighted basic technical errors instead, noting that a high volume of misplaced passes during periods of good possession disrupted their game plan.

​When the interviewer cited the earlier European exit and suggested supporters anticipated a victory, O’Neill rejected the premise that a win at Ibrox is ever guaranteed. He pointed out the challenge of playing in a hostile environment without travelling supporters, while defending his team’s strong domestic run.

​Immediate Opportunity for Revenge

Celtic will not have to wait long to respond to the setback. The two side-by-side rivals clash again next weekend in Scottish Premiership action at Parkhead, giving Celtic a quick opportunity to halt Rangers’ momentum and restore confidence among their support.